Transportation system



4 sheets-shet 1 May 26, 1936. D. w. MAIN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Filed May 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. W. MAIN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Filed May 9, 1951 NVENTOR Fav/id Wzfn,

n b ATTORNEY.

May 26, 1936.

-MIHHH May 26, 1936. D. w. MAIN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Filed May 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Shea?I 5 12m/za imam,

ATTORNEY,

May` 26, 1936, D. w. MAIN 2,042,255

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Filed May 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q( INVENTOR:

www miriam,

ATTORNEY, l

Patented May ze, 193e. 2,042,265

UNITED sTATEs PATENT, lop-FICE ,l

TaANsroaTaTroN SYSTEM Davia w. nu, om city, ons., minor to Transportation Systems, Inc., Oklahoma City. Okla.. a corporation of Oklahoma sppneaann my 9, 1931. serial N assaut zo cmms. (ci. 10s-215) My invention relates to transportation systems Fi'g. 5 is a sectional view taken on line i-I of for passenger and freight traiiicand includes a Fig. 4. i vehicle designed for both rail and highwayop- Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the front axle eration. The invention also includes track equipassembly with. the track in cross section and the ment which permits the vehicle to run over highrubber tires in position for carrying the load. l way and track crossings. switches andotherraised Fig. 'l is a broken plan view ofguide means surfaces, and to run 'from the highway onto the lemployed for steering` the'vehicle while traveling track, or vice versa, without requiring the operauponv the runways. y l tor to stop andv make adjustments o'f any kind. Fig. 8 is a sec Vonalview on line I-l of Fig. 7.

10 The invention can be readily adapted to present Fig. 9 is a broken planview of a portion of the 10 railways. highway busses, trucks and trailers as track with a. turnoutl and equipped with guide very little special equipment is requiredfor makrails and runways. e Y ing the change. l Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on line The vehicle is equipped with wheels Ill-l0 of Fig. 9. f

track tires for rail service and resilient rom tires Fig. 11 is a cross section on line II-I I of Fig. 9. lo for highway travel. The road tires are of greater Referring in detail to the different parts shown diameter than the track tires to carry the load by the drawings, 2 and (designate the mainrails, on the highway, while the track tires revolve idly. 6 and 8 the switch rails and I0 and I2 the branch When. the vehicle is operating upon the track the or turn-out rails of a railway track. Arranged road tires revolve idly and in order that they between and paralleling the-mainrails 2 and 4 is zo may pass over highway and railway crossings, a pair of guide members preferably in the form turnout and other high surfaces, I provide inof rails I4 arranged side by side to provide an clined approaches or runways upon which said intervening slot 20 and connected tothe branch road tires may travel and safely pass' over4 said or turn-out rail lil by'means 'of a frog I6 provided high surfaces. with a longitudinal slot or throat i8 arranged in The change of load from the track tires w the alinement with the slot 20 for a purpose which road tires is gradual and without, shock due to the will hereinafter appear. The throat I8 of the fact that all shock and vibration isv absorbed by frog I6 is equipped with a throat 1111er 22 having the resilient road tires as they run on and oi! downwardly tapered ends 24 andagrooved upper the runways. My invention also provides mea'ns surface as best shown by Figs. 11 and 12. so for guiding the vehicle over said raised surfaces. 25 designates a pair-ofrunways arranged ad- Any built-up surface such as a highway crossing jacent to the outer surfaces of the main rails 2 may be used for running on or on the Vtrack withand .4. Said runways 2B may be inclined their out stopping if suilicient space has been provided entire length as shown on Fig. 2. or provided with for making the turn. l inclined approaches 28 as shown by Fig. 9. The 85 Among some of the advantages accruing from highest portions of the runways 26 are flush with my invention may be mentionedv door-to-door v the top of the rails 2 and 4 for a purpose which transportation of passengers and freight without will hereinafter appear. On Figs. 1 and 2 I have transference of load at 4any point during transit: shown a highway crossing A, the upper surface better visibility and increased safety in operaof which is level with the upper surfaces of the 40 tion, andpadditional comfort and faster transmain rails 2 and 4 and the runways 2i as best portation with lower operating costs. shown by Fig. 2. The runways 2i slope down- In order that 'the invention may be readily unwardly from opposite sidesof the highway A and derstood, reference will now be had to the accomare constructed of lumber or other suitable ma.

panying drawings. in which: l terlal which may be readily installed and main- 45 Fig. 1 is a broken plan view of a track and a tained at small cost.. vehicle equipped with the invention. 29 designates a vehicle only a portion of which Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of the parts is shownion the drawings. Bald vehicle may be shown by Fig. 1. in the form of a buss, truck or any other suit- Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken rear elevation able type and is equipped with wheels 20 pro- 60 partly in cross section of one of the vehicle wheels vided with iixedly mounted rims 22. As best mounted upon a rail. shown by Fig. 3, each rim 22 is of suillcient width Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of means for lockto receive a demountable road tire 24 and a track ing the steering mechanism of the vehicle in a tire It, which latteris preferably provided with straight ahead position. a flange Il for retaining it upon the rail. 1! 55 preferred another road tire 34 may be substituted for said tire 36 to provide dual resilient tires for travel upon the highway. The tires 34 may be of the conventional pneumatic or solid rubber type, while the iianged tires 36 consist of metal or other suitable material adapted to travel upon the track.

In assembling the foregoing parts the ilanged track tire 36 is rst placed upon the wheel rimy 32 which has a marginal flange 38 against which the tire 36 is firmly held by means of a split ring 40 placed against the opposite side of said tire 36. A continuous or nonsplit ring 42 of vT-shaped cross section is then placed against` the :split ring 40 to prevent the same from expanding ,and

becoming loose upon the main rim 32. Another split ring 44 is then placed against and held from expanding by the ring 42, after which thev conventional demountable rim 46, carrying "the tire 34, is slipped in position against the adjacent side of the split ring 44 and firmly held in place l A In some' I by l means of a plurality 'of lugs 48. instances it might be preferable to substitute dual wheels with suitable tires for the single wheel" with two tires as above described.

'Ihe tires 34 are ofgreater diameter'than the ilanged tires 36 in order to Iift'the latter from the rails (Figs. 2 and) when said tires' '34 are traversing the runways. When the flanged tires 36 are lifted from the rails as stated, the vehicle may be kept on a straight course and prevented from running oi the sides of the runways onto the cross ties of the track Vby suitable steering means carried by said vehicle and adapted to cooperate with the guide rails I4. Said steering means in the present instance consists of verti cally disposed pins 50 and 52 whichv are adapted to travel in the throat I8 and the slot 20 formed in the frog I6 and by the guide rails I4, respectively.

The pin 50 is rotatably and vertically slidable 'in a sleeve 54, its vertical movement being lim- The shank 64 has a shoulder 12 for engagement with the lower end of the slot 68 in order to support the pin 50 in raised position. A coil spring 'I4 is interposed between two sections'of the cable 60 for taking up slack in the latter due to the vibration of the vehicle springs and for coacting with said cable 60 in holding the pin 50 in raised position to clear obstructions while the vehicle is traveling upon the highway.

The sleeve 54 is pivotally connected by suitable means such as a bolt 'I6 to a pair of arms 'I8 united at their rear ends byka transverse member which is rmly secured to the front axle 82 of the vehicle 29 by suitable means such as U-bolts 84. The arms I8 are drawn into frictional engagement with the sleeve 54 by the bolt 'I6 to secure said sleeve in upright position, but in the event the pin 50 should contact with an obstruction which cannot be pushed aside the sleeve will yield and permit the pin 50 to swing backwardly and upwardly to clear such obstruction and thereby avoid damage to the pin or the front axle of the vehicle.

The pin 52 like the pin 50 is free to rotate and slide vertically in a sleeve 86 pivotally connectec to a bracket 88 secured to the rear axle housing 90 of the vehicle 29. When desired the pin 5I may be raised from the slot 20 by means of z cable 92 connected at its forward end to a shanl 96 extending through a slot 98 in the oor I0| of the vehicle cab and provided with a knol I 02arranged within convenient reach of tin driver. The shank`96 isprovided with a shoul der |04 for engaging one end of the slot 98 wher it is desired to hold the pin 42 in raised post tion. The cable 92 like the cable 60 is equippe( with a coil spring |06 for keeping said cable 91 taut/under spring action of the vehicle 29 ari( `for cooperating with the cable 92 in holding th pin 52 in` raised position when the vehicle i traveling on the highway.

In addition to providing the guide means abov described for directing the vehicle on a straigh course, I ,also provide'means. for locking th` steering mechanism of the vehicle so that th` front wheels 'thereof cannot turn to the righ or left. As shownmore clearly'by Figs. 1, 4 am 5, said means includesa coupling pin |08 amA `a'plate IIO. which latterlias a tapered hole II through wmohthetapered lower portion n4 o lthe pin |08" extends;11 ,The pin |08 isverticall;

movable in tapered holes iI |501 'a pair of jaw IIB and in a'liole IjIfI inthe upper vend of a guid 'II8, whichlatterisunited toA the.I jaws II6 b; a transversemember |20 secured to 'the axle 8 by suitable nieans such as U-bolts |22.'l q

The plate I.0 is secured tothe tie-rod |24 o the vehicle steeringniechanism by suitable mean such as caps `|26 and'said plate II 0 is of suc "width that, when'shifted to the right or left witi the tie-rodv |24 during the operation of steerin the vehicle, it -will not pass from beneathtli pin |08. LHerice, when the pin |08 is lowered t lock the plate IIO and thejaws I I6 together i may ride upon said plate until the hole therei egisters with the tapered holes in the jaws- I Il `The pin |08 may be liftedirom the hole II of the plate IIO to free the vlatter by means c a cord |28 which may be operated in the sam manner as the cables 60 and 92. A coil sprin |30 is provided for preventing accidental un coupling of the plate IIO and the jaws II6. A shown by Fig. 5, said'spring |30 encircles tlc pin |08 and is interposed between the uppf horizontally disposed end of guide arm II8 an a collar I 32, which latter is secured to the low( portion of the pin |08.

In practice the guide rails I4 and the runwa: 26 are approximately the same length and a1 located at all highway and railway crossings, rai way turn-outs and such other points as desire When the vehicle is running upon the track ar approaches a highway, railway crossing, o'r a turl out, 'the guide pin 50 traverses the slot 20 and tl throat I8 and guides the vehicle over the crossir or turn-out when the flanged tires 36 are rais( from the rails by the rubber tires 34 as the lattl travel upon the runways 26. Then when tl vehicle descends the runways at the other sic of the crossing or turn-out the anged tires l will be in position to contact and travel upon tl rails 2 and 4 as the tires 34 leave said runway When the vehicle is traversing the runways tl front wheels of the vehicle may be locked again turning to the right or left by dropping the p |08 into the registering holes of plate I I0 and tl jaws I I6, so that there will be no danger of in posing undue lateral stresses upon the pin i caused by the front wheels leaving a parallel course with the rails 2 and 4. However, should the driver desire to leave the track and turn onto the highway he lifts the pin 50 to clear the guide rails I4 and the track rails 2 and 4, while the pin |30 is left in raised position so that the steering mechanism will be free to guide the vehicle to the right or left upon the highway. Ordinarily the rear guide pin 52 is secured in raised position except when it becomes necessary to back the vehicle.

When the vehicle is approaching a turnout such as shown by Fig. 9 the guide pin 50 will travel in the throat I8 of the frog I6 and thereby be prevented from striking the rail l0. Neither is there any danger of the pin 50 becoming damaged by striking the end ef the throat filler 22, as the ends of the latter are tapered to a point below the lower end of said pin, which on contacting the upper surface of the tapered portion 24 is guided thereby into the upper grooved surface of the ller 22.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is apparent that I have provided a transportation system embodying the advantages hereinbefore pointed out, and While I have shown and described one form of the invention I reserve all rights to such other forms and modiiications thereof as properly fallwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a system of the character described, a vehicle adapted to traverse a highway or a railway, guide -means adapted to be installed on the railway, a pair of arms carried by said vehicle, a sleeve, means for drawing said arms into frictional-engagement with said sleeve, and a guide pin mounted in said sleeve and adapted to cooperate with the guide means on the railway ln guiding the vehicle.

2. In combination with a track, runways arranged adjacent to said track, a vehicle having dirigible wheels and adapted to travel on the track and the' runways, steering mechanism for directing the dirigible wheels, an element secured to said steering mechanism, a member secured to the front axle of the vehicle, means operable from the vehicle for locking said element and member together to hold the steering mechanism in fixed position, means forming a guide slot paralleling the rails and arranged adjacent to the runways, and guide means depending from the vehicle into said slot to cooperate therewith in guiding the vehicle while traveling upon the runways.

3. In combination with a vehicle having dirigible wheels adapted to travel on a railway or a highway, steering mechanism for directing the dirigible wheels, a plate secured to said steering mechanism and provided with an aperture, a member secured to the front axle of the vehicle and provided with an aperture with which the first-mentioned aperture registers when the vehicle is traveling a. straight course, a pin adapted to pass through said apertures to lock the steering mechanism in xed position, spring means for yieldably holding said pin in the apertures, and manually controlled means for withdrawing the pin from the apertures.

4. In combination with a track having a turnout or crossing, runways arranged beside the track rails and one of which extends between the turn-out or crossing rails, guide rails forming a slot between and paralleling the track rails, a frog connected to one of the turn-out rails and having a. throat in line with the said slot, a.

vehicle-provided with wheels. track tires mounted upon said wheels and adapted to travel upon the rails, road tires mounted beside said track tires and adapted to travel upon the runways, and guide means on the vehicle adapted to travel in the slot and the throat and guide the vehicle while traveling upon said runways.

5. In combination with a trackhaving a turnout or a crossing, a frog having a longitudinal throat and arranged between the rails of the track and adjacent to one of the turn-out or crossing rails, a vehicle adapted t'o traverse a track, and guide means on the vehicle adapted to travel in the throat and guide said vehicle when passing over the turn-out or the crossing:

6. In combination with a track having a turnout or a crossing, a frog having a longitudinal throat and arranged between the rails of the track and adjacent to one of the'turn-outpr crossing rails, a tlller in said throat having downwardly tapered ends. a vehicle adapted to traverse a track, guide means adapted to travel through the throat and upon said illler', and supporting means on the vehicle in which said guide means is free to move upwardly on contacting with the tapered portion of either end of said filler.

7. In combination with a track having a turnout or a crossing, a frog having a longitudinal throat and arranged between the rails of the track and adjacent to one of the turn-ouor crossing rails, a filler in said throat having a grooved upper surface. a vehicle adapted to traverse a track, `guide means adapted to travel through the throat and upon said filler. and a guide member depending from the vehicle and adapted to have its lower end travel in the groove oi said iiller. Y

8. In combination with a mack having a turnout or a crossing, 'a frog having a longitudinal throat and arranged between the rails of the track and adjacent to one of the turn-out or crossing rails, guide rails between the track rails and forming .a slot in line with said throat, a vehicle adapted to traverse a track or a highway, and guide means on the vehicle adapted to travel in the slot and the throat and guide said vehicle when passing over the turn-out or the crossing.

9. In combination with a track having a turnout or a crossing, a frog having a longitudinal throat and arranged between the rails of the track and adjacent to one of the turn-out or crossing rails, a ller in said throat having downwardly tapered ends, a vehicle adapted to traverse'a track or a highway, guide means adapted to travel through the throat and upon said ller, supporting means on the vehicle in which said guide means is free to move upwardly on contacting with the tapered portion of either end, and means controllable from the vehicle for raising and lowering said guide means.

l0. In combination with a track having a turn out or crossing, runways arranged beside the track rails and one of which extends between the turn-out or crossing rails, guide rails forming a slot between and paralleling the track rails, a vehicle provided with wheels equipped to travel upon the track, the runways or a roadway, and guide means at the front and rear portions of said vehicle adapted to travel in the slot to guide the vehicle while traveling upon the runways.

11. In combination with a track having a turnout or crossing. runways arranged beside the track rails and one of which extends between the turn-out or crossing rails, guide rails forming a slot between and parallelms the track rails. a

vehicle provided with dirigible wheels and equipped to travel .upon the track. the runways and a roadway. steering means whereby the dir-` igible wheels may be guided when the vehicle is traveling on the roadway.` mechanism whereby said steering means may be locked in fixed position when the vehicle is traveling on the track, and guide means on thevehicle adapted to travel in the slot and guide the vehicle while traveling upon said runways.A

12. In combination witha vehicle having dir.- igible wheels. steering mechanism .for directing Vsaid dirigible wheels, means for securing said steering mechanism in tlxed position, guide means depending from the vehicle, and stationary parallel guide means spaced apart to admit the lower portion of said depending guide means `and coact therewith in guiding the vehicle.

13. In combination .with a vehicle having dirigible wheels,- steering mechanism for directing said dirigible wheels, means for securing said steering mechanism in fixed position, a vpair of arms secured to the vehicle, a sleeve, means upon which said sleeve is pivotally mounted and whereby the arms may be drawn into irictional engagement with said sleeve. aguide member. mounted in said sleeve, andstationary guidel means adapted to cooperate with said guide member'in directing the vehicle in its course.

14. A vehicle provided with wheels adapted to traverse a highway or a railway, an arm on the vehicle, a". sleeve pivote-ily moimted upon said arm, a guide member operably mounted in said sleeveE a manually actuated cable for raising and lowering said guide 'member'. and guide means adapted to be installed on the railway for cooperating with said guide member in directing the 15. A vehicle adapted to traverse a highway or f to traverse a highway or a railway, steering mechanism on the vehicle for dimcting said dirigible wheels, a plate secured to saidsteering mechanism and provided with' an aperture, a member xed to the vehicle and provided with an aperture adapted to register with the ilrstmentioned aperture when the vehicle is traveling astraightcourse,apinadaptedtopass through theregistering apertures and .lock the steering mechanism in xed position, and manually controlled means operable from the vehicle for withdrawing said pin from. the apertures.

17. In combination with a'track, a vehicle having dirigible wheels equipped with track tires and road tires. runways arranged 'at suitable intervals at both sides of said track for cooperating with the road tires in raising the track tires oft the track, steering mechanismior directing 1 said dirigible wheels, manually controlled mechanism for securing said steering mechanism in ilxed position preparatory to said dirigible wheels traversing the runways, guide means depending from the vehicle, and stationary guide means on 1 the track and between the runway's spaced to leave an intervening slot for admission of the lower portion of the mst-mentioned guide means to cooperate therewith in guiding the vehicle when said .dirigible wheels are traversing the 2 runways.

, 18. In combination with a track, a vehicle having dirigible wheels equipped with track tires and road tires, runways arrangedat suitable intervals atboth sides of said track for cooperating with 2` the road vtires in raising the track tires oiI the track, steering mechanism for directing said dirigible wheels, mechanism for securing said steeringmechanism'in tlxed'position preparatory to said dirigible wheels traversing the runways, a 3i plurality ofguide members depending from the vehicle, means for raising and lowering said guide members, and parallel guide means on the track and between the runways spaced to leave an intervening slot for admission of the lower portions 3i of said guide members to cooperate therewith in l guiding the vehicle .when said dirigible wheels are traversing the runways.

19. A vehicle having wheels adapted to traverse a highway or a railway, a pivotally mounted 4 f sleeve carried by said vehicle, frictional means for retarding pivotal movement of said sleeve, a guide member rotatably and slidably mounted in said sleeve, and means on the railway adapted to coact with saild guide member in guiding the 4 vehicle when traversing the railway.

20. In a guiding system for a vehicle having wheels adapted for travel upon a roadway and upon rails forming a railway, guide means depending from the vehicle, and stationary parallel 5 .guide means disposed along said railway independent oi' said rails and spaced apart to admit the lower portion oi' said depending guide means for enacting with said depending guide means to guide the vehicle wheels while operating upon 5 said rails.

DAVID W. MAIN. 

